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Monday, May 26, 2014

Victim of Customs Officer's acid attack discharged from hospital

Tope Fadipe, the lady who was attacked with acid by a
Nigerian Customs Officer in Badagry area has been discharged from the
General Hospital in Badagry, Sahara Reporters reports.

Tope was admitted at the hospital on May 9th
following the attack by Chief Superintendent of Customs
F.C. Nwaeze, who accused her of failing to remit N50,000 in stock sales to his wife, an
allegation Tope denied but was still punished for it. The acid caused the victim grievous bodily
harm.

Her attacker is currently being held at the Police State Criminal
Investigation Department at Panti in Yaba, Lagos. Continue...

Mr. Nwaeze reportedly got his boys at the Badagry Customs unit to
torture her. Although she said they were two salespersons working for
officer Nwaeze's wife, she said she was the only one tortured by the
team Nwaeze assembled.

The victim said the next she recalls was repeated blows and kicking on different parts of her body by the attackers.
Ms.Fadipe, 22, said she was already unconscious in a drainage gutter
when her mother arrived to save her. But then, she already was soaked in
an unknown liquid substance poured on her during the beatings.

She recounted that when she was taken home, she could not allow
anyone pull her clothes because it was now stuck to her skin and was
painful whenever anyone tried to pull them off. She then screamed out as
her skin was peeling off.

Her younger sister, Kemi Fadipe, who was in the hospital while the
victim was being discharged told our correspondent that they noticed the
liquid substance must have been a harmful chemical substance because of
the manner her skin quickly disintegrated.

However, Medical Director of the General Hospital, Dr Opeyemi Aihonsu
suggested that the substance was diesel mixed with detergent.

Writing the discharge note on Saturday, the doctor in charge of her
treatment, Mr. Boson Bakare said she had healed up fast from the injury
and would only require some follow ups to heal up completely. Although,
he added, she may be left with permanent scars for the rest of her
life.
The doctors said since the report of her admission at the hospital
made the news on the internet; the hospital had received countless
visits both from the Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigerian Navy,
Federal and State government officials as well as civil society
organizations.

On Friday, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on
Health led by Mr. Avoseh visited the victim with a promise to stand by
her.

Also, present at the formal discharge of the victim on Saturday was president of the Women Arise, Mrs. Joe Okei-Odumakin.

She said it was fair enough that the attacker had been "made to eat
the humble pie". She told the family that her organization was ready to
take the issue up with the Nigerian Customs if the family has any
further issue of threat or unfulfilled promises. She, however, insisted
that the erring officer must be properly punished to send a strong
signal to others who may be in the habit of using their position to
oppress ordinary citizens.

Saharareporters learned that there were many interventions with the
family including traditional rulers and the Customs Comptroller General,
Abdullahi Dikko Inde, making many promises which were documented for
the victim.

Although the family pleaded not to disclose the compensations, with
which they said they are absolutely satisfied, the victim, Ms. Fadipe
told our correspondent that the package included a promise of
scholarship to study abroad.

It was also learned from another family source that there is a
promise to open a provisions store for the victim, in addition to an
undisclosed amount in cash promise.
"I am satisfied with all the promises", the victim said on Saturday.
Her skin, which had been burnt significantly during the attack had healed significantly.

Meanwhile, the Comproller General of the Nigerian Customs,
Abdullahi Dikko Inde has promised to ensure justice is done in the case
of Mr. Nwaeze. Mr. Dikko has threatened to suspend or dismiss Nwaeze
depending on findings of their internal investigations.

Mr. Nwaeze is currently being detained at the Police State Criminal
Investigation Department at Panti in Yaba, Lagos according to the
Customs boss.